Temaki: The Original Hand Roll From Japan

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Temaki is a type of sushi that is rolled by hand. It is a cone-shaped piece of nori (seaweed) that is filled with sushi rice and various fillings such as fish, vegetables, and tofu.

Temaki can be a fun and easy way to enjoy sushi. It is perfect for parties or as a quick snack. It is also a great option for those who are new to sushi, as it is much simpler to eat than traditional sushi rolls.

What is temaki

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What does “temaki” mean?

The word “temaki” comes from the Japanese word “te,” which means “hand.” This is because temaki sushi is rolled by hand into a large cone instead of rolled with a sushi mat. It’s meant to be eaten out of your hand instead of being cut into pieces like traditional maki rolls.

What’s the origin of temaki?

Temaki is said to have been invented in the 1960s in Japan as a way to bring back the street food character of sushi in the earlier 19th and 20th century.

Kazunori Nozawa had first introduced the hand roll to America in the 1980s in his restaurant. In 2019, the American National Day Calendar registrar proclaimed National Day, July 6th to be national hand roll day.

What’s the difference between temaki and a hand roll?

Temaki is the Japanese name for the sushi hand roll as “te” means hand and “maki” means roll. They are the same thing.

What’s the difference between temaki and makimono?

Makimono is the Japanese word for any sushi rolled with a mat. Temaki specifically refers to the cone-shaped sushi roll that is rolled by hand.

Is temaki healthy?

Yes, temaki is a healthy option as it is usually made with rice and fresh fillings. It is also a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Also read: how many calories are in sushi anyway?

Conclusion

Temaki is the original hand roll and very easy to make and eat because it doesn’t require any sushi mat skills and it can be easily eaten out of your hand.

Also read: maki vs sushi, what’s the difference?

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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.